YARA’S POV
Raphael dropped me off at the street before the one my apartment is at, we have to be discreet, nobody can know about our connection/ relationship, that would ruin everything.
Raphael has always been very discreet about us, I don’t know if i like that. Sometimes I want to tell someone about this wonderful man in my life but I can’t, I can’t even tell my best friend Bex but I know why Raphael always wants to keep us a secret, it is because not everybody is kind hearted, people are cruel and judgmental and mean, they will not understand a relationship between a twenty-two year old woman and a man more than two times her age.
They will not understand this relationship I have with this man Raphael who also happens to be my godfather and fine art professor.
They will not understand that Raphael is different from those gross older men who like to prey on younger women. They don’t understand us, so I can’t tell.
It was heard to keep my relationship with Raphael away from his ex-wife Stephanie though, I was always very close to telling her, she was my godmother after all, the closest thing I had to a mother figure since my mother died very early on.
I used to like having her around that stopped when Raphael and I started dating, she was the only obstacle in our shared desire to be together forever so she had to go.
Stephanie died… Bummer.
I walked into my apartment to find it completely scattered, everything was upside down, someone has been here. I was about to run into my room to hide the diary when he held a gun to my head.
“Don’t you dare move.” He said. My heart started to beat quickly, I might get killed, might become another missing person on the news…
VALENTINA’S POV
“Turn on your phone Valentina.” Diego said as he parked the car in front of a restaurant that was a few blocks away from my apartment. We were both sitting in the car, the air was tense. I have gotta say I’m kinda enjoying this. He looks almost… jealous.
“I am not going to.” I replied with my arms folded on my chest defiantly. He can’t tell me what to do, I am my own woman.
“Now listen to me, you will do exactly what I want you to do.” He stated, taking my chin between his thumb and his index finger.
“Or what.” I challenge. Inching closer to him. I could feel his breath on my face, his lips was just a few inches away from mine, I could feel my heart starting to beat quickly in anticipation. I want him to kiss me… I want it so bad… I want him.
“I like this confidence on you, it’s almost as if you have forgotten you have a daughter who is literally under my thumb.” Diego said with a snide chuckle. He moved his lips to my ear, brushing against my lips and cheek in the process.
“Never forget what I can do to your dear Ava.” He whispered.
“And by the way, Ava… she is on her way to London as we speak, Don’t worry she is being taken care of, she will have access to all the luxury she would ever need. This is not an environment for a child, I know that firsthand.” Diego added as he gently stroked my lips with his fingers.
“You can’t just take my daughter away from me… you can’t just take her to another country without my consent.” I said. I wanted to be strong, to yell and scream at him but at that moment I just felt weak, everything came down on me, all the emotions I have been holding in, all the times I have pretended to be strong… I couldn’t anymore, I broke down in tears.
“Why would you do that to me, why do you hate me so much that you would want to separate me from my daughter.” I said crying.
He looked startled by my tears at first and then suddenly sympathetic.
“I’m sorry… I…I thought I was doing the right thing for Ava. Valentina, I’m going to tell you something I have never told anyone before.” Diego started.
“Do you know the reason why I hate my father so much?” He asked. It was a rhetorical question, I was not in the mood for rhetorics or anything.
“It’s not because he is the most brutal person I have ever known, no, I would have loved him even if he was the devil himself… I am his son after all. I hate him because he made me him…he stripped out every shred of humanity I once had. I did not remember much after my accident but for some reason I can’t seem to forget what he did to me… it hunts me every single day. I want Ava to remain as kind and as human as she is, that would not be possible if she stays too close to a beast like me.” He added. Holding me in his arms.
I remember how horrible it had been for Diego growing up with a father like Raphael Fernandez. How Raphael had locked Diego up in one of the cells in the dungeon when he was just twelve because he had refused to shoot a man from an opposing Mafia ring.
How Diego had starved for days until he had finally decided to kill the man.
I remember how Diego would wake up startled by constant nightmares where he would see the man chasing him through the woods.
I remember it all, I remember Raphael Fernandez the King of all Devils.
YARA’S POV
“Hello?! Where I’m I?! Get me out of here!! I swear you have the wrong girl. I yelled crying my eyes out. They have definitely got the wrong girl, I can’t see anything through this thick blindfold.
“Hello Yara Walker.” A voice said.
“Wh…who is that.” I asked, scared out of my mind.
“It is I Desmond Fernandez, I need you to do something for me.” The voice answered.